Jim Bakker Net Worth

Bakker was a charismatic speaker and well-known evangelist who rose to prominence in the 1970s and 80s. He was a former Assemblies of God minister and co-host, with his wife Tammy Faye, of The PTL Club, a popular evangelical Christian television program. He also founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network and served as its president until his resignation in 1987 due to a sex scandal involving his church’s staff secretary. He was convicted of fraud and spent time in prison before being released in 1994. The scandal ruined his reputation and drastically lowered his net worth. Although he attempted to make a comeback, his net worth never recovered from its 1980s peak.

Jim Bakker was born in Muskegon, Michigan on January 2, 1939. He attended North Central University, a Bible college affiliated with the Assemblies of God in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After graduating, he began his televangelist career and hosted the 700 Club show. He later started his own ministry and created the Trinity Broadcasting Network with Paul and Jan Crouch.

In 1974, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker established their own variety TV series, which was called “The Jim and Tammy Show” and then renamed to “The PTL Club”. The show was a hit and helped the couple accumulate an impressive amount of wealth. The pair also developed Heritage USA, a Christian theme park in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

The park was an elaborate complex with a water park, hotels, shopping centers, and a television studio. It attracted millions of visitors each year, which boosted the Bakker’s opulent lifestyle. However, it was eventually revealed that the pair misappropriated the ministry funds they received from viewers and used them for their own expenses.